I was taking a look at the legend at the bottom of the forum list and noticed that the very hot topic symbol was for a topic with 25 or more posts.

Is it my imagination or have the replies slowly shrank over the past year?

I remember when 25 replies was a lukewarm to moderate response to a post, and any topic started by Ash was assured to at least double or tripple that. Heck, if someone started a Mad Max/Road Warrior thread, we were bound to get at least 50 replies no matter how many times we had talked about it before.

And how the hell did Tom Cruise garner over 110 replies to a thread about him? I can recall several members just wishing that thread would go away.

Are the days of serial replies behind us?

Has Ash lost his touch?

Do we need to bring back Buffy Knight to get things ignited again?

Or are things like they always were and we are just spreading ourselves out more rather than concentrating on old posts?

I've noticed this too.In 2003-2004, lots of threads got tons of replies. Didn't matter who wrote them.I've noticed that now, my own threads get a lot of views, but they don't receive the massive response that they used to.Then again, I had a dry spell for quite awhile.

It's funny, I get most of my topic ideas out of thin air and usually while I'm at work.I'll space out at my desk and think of all kinds of weird stuff to write about.There are some things that I wish I could post...things that some people would like and some people may find inappropriate. But I don't want to offend anyone and get booted from here so I abstain from writing them. That cuts the number of topics I want to write about in half.I try to write about everyday things that most people can relate to.I'll join in on the occasional bad movie or film topic, but I live for the Off Topic threads.Those are what I'm good at.

Another good thread writer is Susan, but she doesn't come around here very often anymore.She was always guaranteed to get good response.

We may not be seeing as many responses because a lot of the old regulars haven't been around here and there a lot of new people...some who register but just don't post as much.It's probably due to a number of reasons.

Some people have stated in the past that a lot of responses to a thread don't mean anything and that this isn't a popularity contest.I tend to both agree and disagree with that.This isn't a popularity contest.But you have to admit, the threads that garner a ton of responses sure are fun to read and join in on!

Yeah there's a few posters who have dropped off the radar slightly, who previously had more of an impact, such as Susan, who pokes her head in everynow and then and AndyC who had a reason [but I can't remember] as two more notables. Of course since the new board change there's been quite a few new members, a bit of new blood which really seems to have jazzed up the board slightly.

So bring it on! Sure a few big posts here and there are fun, but I've been pretty happy with the rise in quality the last little while. Not sure if it's the new bored members [yes that's what I wrote] the new board itself or just a psychological thing, but I've been feeling more and more like this community of bad movie lovers is coming together really well. [*gush*]

Looking at it, I also think that one of the factors is there seem to be more topics now than we used to create.

We had also become a bit of the isolated group. Overall, the old board (Phorum) was quite comfortable for us, but not intuitive for new visitors. That could have turned away a fair number of new posters. Requiring registration for posting also something that I hate, so that is another possible explanation. Personally, I much prefer the CAPTCHA for guests and registration is optional. It makes much more sense for someone who is looking for a movie or just wants to say hello.

A lot of my responses to things tend to end threads, even when my posts are open-ended. I'm a dud, I guess. I don't know why I don't post more though, I guess I just tend to agree with a lot of things already said....